Lifting appliance for aircraft and aircraft comprising lifting appliance
By integrating parachutes, thrusters and vision modules in the aircraft spreader, safe soft landing and precise emergency landing are achieved in emergencies, and the problem of cargo being difficult to safely land in the prior art is solved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421238765.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-31
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-05-31
AI Technical Summary
In the cargo transportation of aircraft, it is difficult for cargo to land safely after cutting off the rope of the spreader in an emergency, which is easy to cause damage and cannot guarantee landing to a suitable location.
A spreader including a parachute storage compartment, control module, thruster mount, vision module and communication module is designed to automatically open the parachute and thruster in an emergency, and soft landing is achieved through the combined action of the parachute and thruster. And judge and move to the appropriate emergency landing location through the visual module and the positioning module.
Ensures a safe soft landing of goods in emergency situations and can accurately land to appropriate locations, reducing the risk of cargo damage.
Smart Images
Figure CN222272401U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application belongs to the field of aircraft, and in particular, relates to a sling for an aircraft and an aircraft comprising the sling. Background Art
[0002] The background description provided herein is intended to generally present the context of the disclosure.
[0003] Aircraft, especially unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, are being increasingly used in the field of cargo transportation. There are many ways to transport cargo by aircraft. One of the ways is to manually load the cargo on the aircraft, and then lower the cargo from the air to the ground by retracting and releasing the rope of the sling after the aircraft transports the cargo to the air above the destination. However, in this way, when encountering an emergency such as the rope being entangled or caught by foreign objects, aircraft failure, or sling failure, it is necessary to cut the rope of the sling to disconnect the cargo from the aircraft to ensure the safety of the cargo or the aircraft. After the rope is cut, the cargo will land hard on the ground, which can easily cause damage to the cargo, and it is impossible to ensure that the cargo lands in a suitable location.
[0004] Therefore, it is desired to provide a new sling to ensure that the cargo can be safely dropped to a suitable location in an emergency. Utility Model Content
[0005] This section introduces the concepts of the present application in a simplified form, which are further reflected in the detailed description below. This section is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a sling for an aircraft, the sling comprising:
[0007] Base plate;
[0008] a parachute storage compartment disposed on the bottom plate, the parachute storage compartment being configured to be able to store a parachute therein; and
[0009] Control module;
[0010] The control module is configured to control the parachute storage compartment so that the parachute storage compartment can be opened so that the parachute can be released.
[0011] Preferably, the hanger is provided with a wall, wherein the wall extends out along an edge of a side of the bottom plate toward the bottom plate and surrounds the bottom plate so that the bottom plate and the wall form a box-like structure.
[0012] Preferably, the spreader further comprises a thruster mounting frame for mounting the thruster, wherein the thruster mounting frame is located outside the wall, and wherein the control module is further configured to be able to control the operation of the thruster.
[0013] Preferably, the thruster mounting frame includes a first body and a second body, wherein the first body and the second body are both substantially rectangular plates, and wherein the second body is arranged at opposite ends of the first body and is perpendicular to the first body, and the thruster is installed in the first body and the second body.
[0014] Preferably, the spreader further comprises a vision module.
[0015] Preferably, the spreader further includes at least one of a communication module, a detection module and a positioning module.
[0016] Preferably, the base plate is provided with a winch unit, wherein the winch unit comprises a winch body, a motor connected to the winch body, and a rope wound around the winch body.
[0017] Preferably, a battery pack can be placed within the wall.
[0018] Preferably, the spreader further comprises a rope guiding mechanism, wherein the rope guiding mechanism is arranged in the base plate or in the thruster mounting frame.
[0019] Preferably, at least one of the wall and the thruster mounting is provided with a hollowing out.
[0020] In another aspect of the present application, an aircraft is also provided, the aircraft comprising a sling according to the principle of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Other or additional features, advantages and details are presented by way of example only in the following detailed description of the embodiments. In the drawings:
[0022] Figure 1 A sling according to the principles of the present application is schematically shown,
[0023] Figure 2 The figure schematically shows a sling according to the principle of the present application from another perspective.
[0024] Figure 3 A spreader provided with a top cover according to the principles of the present application is schematically shown.
[0025] It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals identify similar or corresponding components or features. It should also be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and are merely schematic illustrations of exemplary embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The exemplary embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is only exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present application, application or use.
[0027] The present application will now be further described. In the following paragraphs, different aspects of the present application are defined in more detail. Unless clearly indicated to the contrary, each aspect so defined may be combined with any other aspect(s). In particular, any feature indicated as being preferred or advantageous may be combined with any other feature(s) indicated as being preferred or advantageous.
[0028] See attached Figure 1 , shows a sling 100 according to the principles of the present application. The sling 100 includes a base plate 110, a parachute storage compartment 120 disposed on the base plate 110, and a control module 130. The parachute storage compartment 120 is configured to be able to store a parachute 121 therein. The control module 130 is configured to be able to control the parachute storage compartment 120 to open so as to release the parachute 121. For example, as is easily understood by those skilled in the art, the control module 130 can be electrically connected to the parachute storage compartment 120, so that the opening of the parachute storage compartment 120 can be controlled to release the parachute 121. The sling 100 can be provided with a cargo box, a gripper or a hook to store, grab or mount cargo.
[0029] It is easy for a person skilled in the art to understand that the sling 100 according to the principle of the present application is connected to the aircraft through a rope. When an emergency occurs, after the cutting mechanism provided on the aircraft or the sling cuts the rope, the control module 130 of the sling 100 can control the parachute storage compartment 120 to open, thereby releasing the parachute 121, so that the sling 100 and the cargo can achieve a soft landing under the action of the parachute 121, thereby ensuring the safety of the cargo. The emergency may include in the process of collecting and releasing cargo, such as the rope being entangled or hung on surrounding objects, the winch for collecting and releasing the rope being stuck, the aircraft malfunctioning, the aircraft power being too low or the sling power being too low, resulting in the sling being unable to be retracted into the aircraft, etc.
[0030] Advantageously, the sling 100 may be provided with a communication module (not shown), and the communication module may be configured to communicate with the control module, so that when an emergency occurs, the communication module may receive a remote control instruction and transmit the control instruction to the control module 130, so that the control module 130 controls the parachute storage compartment 120 to open and release the parachute 121. Advantageously, the sling 100 may also include a detection module (not shown). The detection module may be used to detect whether the sling 100 is in an emergency state. For example, the detection module may detect one or more of the current and speed of the winch motor, the angle of the level of the sling 100, the acceleration of the sling 100, the angle of the level of the aircraft, the power of the sling 100, the power of the aircraft, etc. through a sensor, and transmit these data to the control module 130 or the remote operator in a wired or wireless manner, and the control module 130 or the remote operator determines whether the sling 100 is in an emergency state.
[0031] In one embodiment, the control module 130 determines whether the spreader 100 is in an emergency state. The control module 130 stores preset thresholds of the aforementioned data. When one or more data exceeds the threshold, the control module 130 determines that the spreader 100 is in an emergency state and performs an escape operation.
[0032] In one embodiment, a remote operator is used to determine whether the spreader 100 is in an emergency state. The communication module can transmit the aforementioned data detected by the detection module to the remote control terminal, and the remote control terminal can display these data in real time so that the operator can determine whether the spreader 100 is in an emergency state and decide whether to perform an escape operation. Advantageously, the remote control terminal can also store preset thresholds of the aforementioned data. When one or more data received by the remote control terminal exceeds the threshold, the remote control terminal will issue an alarm to prompt the operator, and the operator can determine whether the spreader 100 is in an emergency state and decide whether to perform an escape operation.
[0033] Advantageously, the detection module may also include a camera disposed on the aircraft, which may transmit a real-time image of the spreader 100 to a remote operator via the communication module, and the remote operator may determine whether the spreader 100 is in an emergency state and decide whether to perform an escape operation.
[0034] Advantageously, the spreader 100 is provided with a wall 140. Figure 1 As shown, the wall 140 extends along the edge of the bottom plate 110 toward one side of the bottom plate 110 and surrounds the bottom plate 110 so that the bottom plate 110 and the wall 140 form a box-like structure. The box-like structure arranged in this way can protect the parachute storage compartment 120 and the control module 130 disposed on the bottom plate 110. The bottom plate 110 can be rectangular, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or irregular in shape, preferably rectangular. When the bottom plate 110 is rectangular (such as Figure 1 As shown schematically, the wall 140 may include a first wall 140a and a second wall 140b, wherein the first wall 140a extends along two opposite sides of the bottom plate 110, preferably perpendicular to the bottom plate, and the second wall 140b extends along the other two opposite sides of the bottom plate 110, preferably perpendicular to the bottom plate. The first wall 140a and the second wall 140b are detachably connected, for example, by bolt connection or rod connection, and the rod used for connection may be a metal rod or a carbon fiber rod.
[0035] See attached Figure 1 , Attachment Figure 2 and attached Figure 3 Advantageously, the sling 100 is provided with a propeller mounting frame 150 for mounting a propeller 151 on the outer side of the wall 140, and the control module 130 can be configured to control the operation of the propeller 151. For example, the propeller 151 and the control module 130 can be electrically connected, so that the operation of the propeller 151 can be controlled by the control module 130. When the sling 100 is in an emergency state and the parachute 121 is opened, the control module 130 can control the propeller 151 to start, thereby providing a horizontal force for the sling 100, so as to propel the sling 100 to a suitable landing location. The propeller mounting frame can be provided with a hollow 152 to reduce the weight of the sling 100.
[0036] See attached Figure 1 , the propeller 151 may be a propeller, or a gas or liquid nozzle. The propeller mounting frame 150 may include a first body 150a and a second body 150b. As shown, the first body 150a and the second body 150b are both substantially plate-shaped, the first body 150a and the first wall 140a are substantially parallel or parallel, the second body 150b and the second wall 140b are in the same direction, and the second body 150b is arranged at the opposite ends of the first body 150a and is perpendicular to the first body 150a. The propeller 151 is installed in the first body 150a and the second body 150b. When the bottom plate 110 is rectangular, the propeller mounting frame 150 is arranged on the outer side of the first wall 140a, so that the operation of each propeller 151 can be controlled to provide forces in various directions for the sling 100.
[0037] Advantageously, the sling 100 may include a visual module (not shown). When the aircraft enters an emergency state and the rope of the rope sling 100 is cut, the visual module can identify a suitable forced landing location in the surrounding environment and send the location information of the location to the control module 130. The control module 130 sends a start instruction to the relevant thruster 151, so that the sling 100 moves to a suitable forced landing location and lands under the joint action of the thruster 151 and the parachute 121. In one embodiment, the visual module can capture a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of the surrounding environment through a camera, and determine a relatively flat or less obstacle location in the surrounding environment as a forced landing location through algorithms such as machine learning. In one embodiment, the visual module can use a SLAM (Simultaneous localization and mapping) method to scan the surrounding area through a visual radar or a laser radar, and then identify a suitable forced landing location after establishing a digital three-dimensional model. Alternatively, the visual module can also transmit the real-time image of the surrounding environment to the remote operator, who can identify a suitable landing location and send corresponding instructions to the control module 130. The control module 130 controls the operation of the thruster 151 and the parachute 121, so that the sling 100 moves to a suitable location and lands.
[0038] The sling 100 may also include a positioning module (not shown), which can cooperate with the visual module to identify a suitable forced landing location, or can be used to find a preset forced landing location. In one embodiment, the control module 130 of the aircraft stores the location information of multiple forced landing locations preset in the flight route. When the aircraft enters an emergency state and cuts the rope of the sling 100, the positioning module can determine the location information of the sling 100 through, for example, a GPS system and send the location information to the control module, and the control module determines the nearest forced landing location based on the location information of the sling 100, and sends instructions to the corresponding thrusters 151, so that the sling 100 moves to the nearest forced landing location and lands. Alternatively, the positioning module can also send the location information of the sling 100 to the remote control of the aircraft through the communication module, manually determine the closest forced landing location, and remotely send instructions to the control module to move the sling 100 to the closest forced landing location.
[0039] Refer to the attached Figure 1Advantageously, the bottom plate 110 may be provided with a winch unit 160, wherein the winch unit 160 includes a winch body 161, a motor 162 connected to the winch body 161, and a rope (not shown) wound around the winch body 161. The number of winch units 160 may be more than 2, for example, 4. The sling 100 is connected to the aircraft through the rope of the winch unit provided thereon, and the lifting and lowering of the sling 100 is achieved by retracting and releasing the rope. Advantageously, the winch unit 160 also includes a rope guiding mechanism 163 to change the direction of the rope and prevent the rope from swinging. The rope guiding mechanism 163 may be provided on the bottom plate 110, or in the propeller mounting frame 150, preferably at the connection between the first body 150a and the second body 150b of the propeller mounting frame 150. Alternatively, the sling 100 may also be provided without a winch unit, but only connected to the aircraft through a rope, and the lifting and lowering of the sling 100 is controlled by the winch unit provided at the aircraft.
[0040] Refer to Figure 1 and attached Figure 2 Advantageously, a battery pack 141 may be placed inside the wall 140 to provide power to devices disposed in the sling 100, such as the control module 130 and the motor 162. The wall 140 may be provided with a hollow 142 to allow the battery pack to dissipate heat, allow ropes to pass through the hollow, and reduce the weight of the sling 100. The hollow 142 may be of any shape.
[0041] Refer to the attached Figure 3 Advantageously, the sling 100 may be provided with a top cover 170, wherein the top cover 170 and the wall 140 may be detachably connected, so as to cover the box-like structure formed by the wall 140 and the bottom plate 110, so as to protect the equipment disposed on the bottom plate 110, such as the control module 130 and the motor 162. Advantageously, the top cover 170 is provided with a through hole 171, so that the parachute 121 can be released through the hole 171.
[0042] It is easy for a person skilled in the art to understand that the sling according to the principle of the present application can be used not only in an emergency state of an aircraft, but also for dropping cargo. In the method of using dropping to airdrop cargo, when the aircraft flies over the destination, the aircraft cuts off the rope connected to the sling 100, and at this time the control module 130 controls the parachute storage compartment 120 to open to release the parachute 121, and at the same time the visual module determines the most suitable landing location and transmits the location information to the control module 130, and the control module 130 starts the corresponding propeller 151, thereby propelling the sling 100 and the cargo and landing them at the most suitable landing location.
[0043] The present application also provides an aircraft, which includes a sling 100 according to the principle of the present application. The aircraft can be an unmanned aircraft or a manned aircraft.
[0044] Although at least one exemplary embodiment is described in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that there are a large number of variations. It should also be understood that an exemplary embodiment or multiple exemplary embodiments described herein are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the present application in any way. On the contrary, the foregoing detailed description will provide convenient guidance for those skilled in the art to implement an exemplary embodiment or multiple exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes, modifications or changes, etc. can be made to the functions and arrangements of elements without departing from the scope of the present application as set forth in the attached claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A sling for an aircraft, characterized in that: The sling comprises: Base plate; A parachute storage compartment disposed on the bottom plate, the parachute storage compartment being configured to store a parachute therein; and Control module; Wherein, the control module is configured to be able to control the parachute storage compartment so that the parachute storage compartment can be opened so that the parachute can be released.
2. The sling according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hanger is provided with a wall, wherein the wall extends out along an edge of the bottom plate toward one side thereof and surrounds the bottom plate so that the bottom plate and the wall form a box-like structure.
3. The sling according to claim 2, characterized in that: The spreader further comprises a thruster mounting frame for mounting a thruster, wherein the thruster mounting frame is located outside the wall, and wherein the control module is further configured to control the operation of the thruster.
4. The sling according to claim 3, characterized in that: The thruster mounting frame includes a first body and a second body, wherein the first body and the second body are both substantially rectangular plate-shaped, and wherein the second body is arranged at opposite ends of the first body and is perpendicular to the first body, and the thruster is installed in the first body and the second body.
5. The sling according to claim 4, characterized in that: The spreader also includes a vision module.
6. The sling according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sling further includes at least one of a communication module, a detection module and a positioning module.
7. The sling according to claim 6, characterized in that: The bottom plate is provided with a winch unit, wherein the winch unit includes a winch body, a motor connected to the winch body, and a rope wound around the winch body.
8. The sling according to claim 7, characterized in that: A battery pack can be placed within the wall.
9. The sling according to claim 8, characterized in that: The spreader further comprises a rope guiding mechanism, wherein the rope guiding mechanism is arranged in the base plate or in the thruster mounting frame.
10. The sling according to claim 9, characterized in that: At least one of the wall and the thruster mount is provided with a hollowing out.
11. An aircraft, characterized in that: The aircraft comprises a sling according to any one of claims 1-10.